THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE 


LOST  FAIRY  BIRD 


A  POEM, 


MRS.  B.  A.  PIERSON. 


TOLEDO: 

BLADE  PRINTING  A  PAPER  CO. 
1874. 


TS 

3SS  + 

Ji 


To  MRS.  J.  F.  MILLER, 

OF  LOUISVILLE,  KY. 

These  verses  are  most  affectionately  inscribed  by  her  friend, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


761029 


THE  LOST  FAIRY  BIRD. 


THE  LOST  FAIRY  BIRD. 


Written  on  the  S.  S.  Nassau,  and  suggested  by  the  fall  of  a 
Bird  called  Man-of-  War  on  deck. 


SIX    BEAUTIFUL  birds  flew  over  the 
main, 

Six  beautiful  birds  with  a  sweet  refrain  ! 
With  wings  as  white  as  the  snows  that  sleep 
On  the  mountain  crest,  whose  lofty  steep 
Rising  and  gleaming  in  distance  afar, 
Is  crowned  with  the  radiant  morning  star! 
Six  beautiful  birds,  and  one  was  a  Queen, 
Singing  and  sporting  amid  the  bright  sheen ! 
Upon  her  fair  wings  were  garlands  of  flowers, 
Culled  from  the  land  of  the  amaranth  bowers  ! 
Lily  and  snow-drop  and  pearl-colored  blossom 
Hung  in  their  beauty  upon  her  white  bosom! 
A  fairy  princess  and  one  day  to  reign 
Over  a  wide  and  a'flow'ry  domain! 


THE  LOST  FAIR  Y  BIRD. 


For  snowy-winged  birds  are  not  what    they 

seem, 

But  spirits  of  woodland,  of  valley  or  stream  ; 
And  we,  with  our  weak  and  sin-stricken  eyes 
Pierce  not  their  harmless  and  loving  disguise. 
If  a  mortal  but  touch  them,  dishonored  they 

die, 
Or  wander  o'er  earth  'neath  the  dark,  wintry 

sky! 

And  never  to  look  on  the  dear,  fairy  faces, 
Or  'never  to  see  the  sweet,  flowery  places  ! 
Onward  they  floated,  those  beautiful  birds, 
Over  the  deep,  with  their  low,  loving  words  ! 

"  Oh,  kind,  gentle  friends,"  the  princess  bird 

said, 
As  she  fluttered  her  wings    and   poised   her 

fair  head, 

"  Look  to  the  eastward  and  tell  me,  I  pray, 
What  is  that  creature  that  floats  far  away  ? 
See,   how   quickly    it    moves !    and  its    huge, 

graceless  form 

Is  instinct  with  life  ;  with  majesty  warm  ! 
Oh,  my  kind  spirit  friends,  let  us  draw  very 

near, 


THE  LOST  FAIR  Y  BIRD. 


Of  this  creature,  if  mortal  or  bird,    I've    no 

fear! 

Strange,  that  this  object  we  never  have  seen, 
Come  Ilia,  Monina,  follow  your  queen." 

"  Oh  princess,"  said  Ilia,  "  I  pray  you  beware  ! 
Did  not  the  fairy  queen  make  you  our  care  ? 
And  if  evil  befall  her  darling,  I  know 
It  will  kill  her  proud  spirit  with  weeping  and 

woe  ! 
For  dear,  lovely  princess,  no  mortal  should 

brook, 
On  your  beautiful  form — on  your  sweet  face 

to  look  ! 

So  do  not  go  near — it  is  only  a  snare  ; 
Dear,  beautiful  princess,  we  pray  you,  beware." 

"  The  heart  of  a  queen  should  never  know  fear, 
Monina,  your  princess   commands   you  draw 

near ! 

If  the  spirit  of  Ilia  is  cowardly,  weak — 
We  will  show  her  that  higher  enjoyments  we. 

seek, 
The  pleasure  of  learning  from  Nature's  great 

book ! 


THE  LOST  FAIRY  BIRD, 


Come,  spirit  friends,  come  ;    on  this  strange 
object  look  !" 

But  Monina  fell  on  her  knees,  as  she  said, 
While  she    bowed  to   the  princess  her    own 

stately  head  : 

"  Our  love  for  you,  dear  one,  fills  us  with  fears, 
For  what  to  our  vision  so  stately  appears 
May,  only  a  monster  of  mortal  device, 
Be   waiting  to  seize  you — oh,  therefore,    be 

wise  ! 

If  need  be,  we'd  die  for  you,  darling,  be  sure, 
But  let  not  this  object  so  foully  allure  ! 
For   lost  is  the  princess  who   yields  to    the 

snare, 
And   is  touched    by  a    mortal — I   pray  you, 

beware  ! " 

"  I  scorn  your  monitions — -alone  will  I  fly  ! 

Knights  of  the  Lily;  sooner  I'd  die 

Than  abjectly  live  in  cowardly  fear, 

Away — I  will  not  that  one   should  be  near." 

She  moved  her  white  wings — she  rose  to  the 
sky, 


THE  LOST  FAIRY  BIRD. 


With  grace  in   her  movements  and  pride  in 

her  eye  ! 

And  paused  but  a  moment,  afar  in  the  air, 
To    fling   back    in    scorn,    that   one  word— 

(<  Beware ! " 
She  saw  the  huge  object — >but  knew  not  the 

ship 

Sailing  away  toward  the  horizon's  dip  ! 
But  her  keen  eye  was  bright,  her  white  wing 

was  strong, 

She  reached  it  and  hovered  above  it  ere  long  ! 
And  stooping — just  stooping— she  struck  on 

the  mast, 
And  fell  to  the  deck — a  hand  held  her  fast ! 


"  Oh,  Ilia,  dear  Ilia,  Monina,  I  die  ! 
Farewell  to  my  visions  of  sweet  ecstacy  ! 
Would  that  my  poor  heart  had  never  been 

born  ; 

Oh  Knight  of  the  Lily,  I  gave  you  but  scorn 
For  the   generous  gift    of  your   own    noble 

heart, 
Without    greeting    or    farewell,    forever,    we 

part ! " 
With  a  shriek  and  a  pang  she  won  her  release, 


THE  LOST  FAIR  Y  BIRD. 


But  lost  in  that  moment  Eternity's  peace  ! 
And  hiding  her  face  in  the  foam-crested  wave, 
She  wished  that  the  Ocean  might  be  her  cold 

grave'! 

For  one  weary  sin,  how  many  a  mortal 
Hath  come  short  of  heaven,  the  bright  shining 

portal ! 

So  like  the  poor  princess,  whose  fatal  desire, 
Then  lighted  for  hope  the  funeral  pyre  ! 

In  the  meantime,  the  mother  Queen  sat  on 

her  throne, 

Which  radiant  with  jewels  of  fairy  land  shone  ! 
The  dew-drops,  whose  glories  the  white  rose 

bedeck, 

Were  woven  to  shine  on  her  beautiful  neck  ; 
All  the  hues  of  the  rainbow  were  blended  in 

them, 

And  they  formed  for  her  brow  a  fair  diadem  ! 
The    throne  was  o'er  hung   with  butterflies' 

wings, 
Embellished  with   gold  of  the  beetles'  bright 

rings  ! 

Her  sceptre,  an  em'rald,  wondrous  in  size, 
Crowned  with  a  star,  she  had  plucked  from 

the  skies ! 


THE  LOST  FAIR  Y  BIRD. 


Her  robe  was  composed  of  the  pansies'  gay 

leaves, 
Bright  with  the  sunshine  that  summer  time 

weaves. 
Her  magical    slippers    were    made    of  white 

moss, 
Embroidered    by    fairies,    with    gold-colored 

floss! 
Her  palace    was    gorgeous    with    wonderful 

things, 
Trophies  of  conquest — And  cooled  by  pure 

springs 
The    garden    that    bloomed    with    amaranth 

flowers, 

Sweet  with  the  incense  of  glorious  bowers ! 
But  a   shadow   had    passed    o'er   the    Fairy 

Queen's  face, 

And  gave  to  her  beauty,  a  pale,  pensive  grace  ! 
The  Knights  of  the  Lily  then  sounded  a  call, 
And  fairy  bands  entered  the  Ivory  Hall  ; 
But    their  music  was  silenced — the   moment 

they  saw 

The  Queen's  pallid  face — they  waited  in  awe  ! 
A  blast  of  the  bugle  that  moment  was  heard, 
Each  fairy  head  bowed  to  the  Queen  mother 

Bird! 


THE  LOST  FAIRY  BIRD. 


And  she  spoke  in  her  silvery  accents  at  last, 
When  the  pang  of  some  memory  over   her 
past : 


"  Knights  of  the  Lily,  I  bid  you  declare 
What  you  know  of  the  Princess  Gorilla,  so 

fair; 
She  left  us  at  day-dawn  ;  she  comes  not   at 

night, 
Though  the  heaven  above  us  with  star  lamps 

is  bright ! 

Oh,  Ilia,  Monina,  I  gave  to  your  care, 
And  ye  Knights  of  the  Lily,  your  princess  so 

fair! 
Why  weeping  and  sighing  ?     Why  blanches 

each  cheek  ? 
What  you    know   of    the   Princess,    instantly 

speak!" 


"Dear  Queen,"  and  the  accents  were  tremulous, 

low, 

"Of  the  fate  of  the  Princess — no  one  can  know ; 
She  left  us  to  wander  alone  o'er  the  sea  ; 
Perhaps  she'll  return  unto  us  and  to  thee." 


THE  LOST  FAIR  Y  BIRD.  13 


The  cheek  of  the  Queen  grew  fearfully  pale, 
And  she  dropped  in  her  anguish  the  bright, 

gauzy  veil, 
But  arose  in  her  majesty,  coldly  and  stern  :     * 


"  Perhaps,  oh  ye  traitors!  perhaps,  she'll  return! 
If  she  come,  it  is  will — if  not,  ye  shall  die; 
My  knights  of  the  crown,  I  bid  you  to  fly 
Swiftly  and  faithfully  over  the  deep  ; 
Rest  not  your  wings  and  pause  not  to  sleep 
Till   the    Princess    Gorilla,    your   princess,  is 

found, 

And  dead  or  alive,  on  ocean  or  ground, 
In  darkness  or  sunshine,  with  mortal  or  fairy  ; 
Haste,  knights  of  the  crown,  nor  falter  nor 

tarry  ! 
Ho,  guards  of  the   Palace,  these  pris'ners  are 

ours  ! 
Take    them    in    chains    to  the  dark    cypress 

bowers  ! 

And  Ilia,  Monina,  the  deadly  night-shade, 
Is  the  couch,  where  the  head  of  the  traitor  is 

laid; 
Where  the  dragon-fly  hisses  ;  the  raven  and 

owl 


i4  THE  LOST  FAIR  Y  BIRD. 


Make  the  darkness  and  terror  more  gloomy 

and  foul ! 
Where  the  prayers  and  the  sighs  and  the  tears 

of  your  grief, 

To  your  sin-haunted  souls,,  brings  never  relief! 
Sound  the  bugle  again — let  the  warriors  of 

old 

Be  summoned  in  phalanx,  this  palace  to  hold  ! 
We  know  not  what  dangers   may  threaten  us 

now, 
Or  menace  the  crown  on  the  F'airy  Queen's 

brow ! " 


Every    word    of    the    monarch    was    swiftly 

obeyed ; 
And  the  Knights  of  the  Lily,  with  dark  chains 

arrayed  ; 

While  Ilia,  Monina,  went  forth  to  their  doom, 
To  the  cypress  and  nightshade,  a  prison  and 

tomb  ! 


The  Knights  of  the  Crown  rose  upward  afar, 
And  their  pinions  were  glitt'ring  with  many  a 
star ! 


THE  LOST  FA  IR  Y  BIRD.  1 5 


But  their  faces    were   sad,  their   aspect    was 

stern, 

As  they  sought  the  Princess'  fair  form  discern  ! 
A  moment    they   paused    to  hold  council  of 

flight,    . 
And  determined  to  sweep  o'er  the  Ocean  that 

night  ! 

So,  led  by  an  instinct  to  spirits  not  rare, 
They    found  their  lost  Princess,   Gorilla  the 

fair! 
She  had   hidden  beneath  the   white    crested 

foam, 
Trembling  and  sighing  and  weeping  for  home! 


"  Oh,  Knights  of  the  Crown,"  she  said  through 

her  tears, 

"  Return  and  permit  me  to  die  in  my  fears  ! 
My  white  wing  is  broken — my  sweet  hopes 

are  lost, 
And  the  pure  fairy  dreams  of  my  spirit  are 

crost ! 

I  cannot  return — go  back  to  the  Queen, 
And  tell  not  my  mother,  Gorilla  you've  seen  ; 
I  never  can  sit  on  the  em'rald  throne  ; 
Go  back  then,  and  leave  me  to  die  all  alone  ! " 


1 6  THE  LOST  FAIRY  BIRD. 


"  No,  never  !  we  dare  not  our  Queen  disobey  ; 
Oh,  Princess,  dear  Princess,  we're  filled  with 

dismay  ! 

Our  hearts  and  our  lives  forever  are  thine  ; 
Come  back  to  the  land  where  the  star-blossoms 

shine  ! 
Come  back,  and  thy  mother  will   pardon,  we 

know, 
Your  sin    or  your  folly,  and    comfort    your 

woe  ! " 


They   bore    her   away    on    their   pinions    of 

light, 
To  the  land  that  with   blossoms   forever   is 

bright ; 

They  entered  the  Palace  before  the  fair  dawn 
Could  touch  with  its  beauty  the  garden  or 

lawn  ; 
The  bugle  blast  sounded — the  warriors  and 

Queen 
Came  flashing  in  gems,  in   gold  and    bright 

sheen  ; 
While  Corilla,the  Princess,with  head  drooping 

low, 
And  dew  of  the  Ocean  upon  her  pale  brow  ; 


THE  LOST  FAIR  Y  BIRD.  1 7 


With  the  garlands,  which  perfume  and  glory 

had  shed 

About  her  fair  form,  all  withered  and  dead, 
In  anguish  and  grief  of  her  spirit  fell  down, 
And  covered  her  face  from  the  sight  of  the 

Crown  ! 


"  My   daughter !    the    Princess !    where    hast 

thou  been  ? " 
Said  the  solemn  and  startling  voice   of  the 

Queen  ; 
"  Thy  bright  wing  is   broken — what    sorrow 

hath  crushed 
Thy   spirit,    and    all    its    sweet    music    hath 

hushed  ? 

If  only  for  sorrow  thou  mournest  alone, 
Gorilla,    thou    knowest    thy    griefs   are    our 

own  ! 
When    didst    thy    mother,    my    darling,    ere 

lose 

The   gift  of  sweet    counsel ;    to   comfort  re- 
fuse ? 

Come  to  my  arms  and  my  loving  embrace, 
Let  me  see   once    again    your   sweet    sunny 

face  ! " 


1 8  THE  LOST  FAIRY  BIRD. 


Not  a  sound  from  the  Princess — still  bending 

low, 
With  her  heart  throbbing  wild  in  its  anguish 

and  woe ! 
With  those  sweet  thrilling  words  no  comfort 

there  came 
To  the  source  of  her  grief — her  terror  and 

shame  ! 

"  Speak,  instantly  speak,  my   Knights  of  the 

Crown, 
Or  the  Guard  of  the  Palace   shall  sweep  you 

all  down  ! 

What  is  this  grief?     Is  it  sorrow  or  sin  ? 
Fear  not  to  speak  to  your  own  loving  Queen.'' 

"  I  will  answer  myself,"  said  the  Princess'  low 

voice, 
"Since  the  deed  and  its  penalty  leave  me  no 

choice  ! 

A  mortal  hath  touched  me — to  die  I'll  prepare! 
But  mother,  oh  mother,  this  life  is  so  fair  ! 
And  Sir  Avoline,  Knight  of  the  Lily,  so  brave, 
Who  loves  me,   will  come  to  my  rescue  and 

save !" 


THE  LOST  FAIR  Y  BIRD.  19 


Then  sadness  fell  o'er  the  fairy  bands  all, 

And  silence  pervaded  the  Ivory  Hall  ! 

But  the  voice  of  the  Queen  once  more  was 

heard, 
And  the  swords  of  the  warriors   leaped  forth 

at  her  word  ! 
"  This  Knight  of  the  Lily  once  more  she  shall 

see  ; 
Bring  hither,  with  Ilia,  Monina,  to  me  !" 


"  Oh  spare  me,  my  mother,"  the  lost  Princess 

cried  ; 

"  Enough  ;  I  shall  never  be  Avoline's  bride; 
Enough ;  this  anguish  my  spirit  has  broken, 
Why    wilt   thou    demand  some    still    deeper 

token  ?" 


"  Silence  !  lost  Princess,  I  care  not  to  hear 
Thy  penitent  sigh — to  see  thy  false  tear ! 
Though  my  heart-strings  with  anguish  should 

sever, 
I   will    not  forgive  thee,  thou   false  one — no, 

never ! " 


THE  LOST  FAIR  Y  BIRD. 


Then    Avoline,    Knight    of  the    Lily,   stood 

forth, 
"  Oh,    what    is   my    life,    dear    Fairy    Queen 

worth  ? 

Let  my  head  or  my  heart,  the  penalty  pay, 
And  the  Princess  Gorilla  be  free  from    this 

day ; 

I  would  suffer  the  tortures  of  lingering  woe, 
Her  sweet  thanks  to   hear  and  her  pure  love 

know ! " 


"Wilt  thou  take  her  in  all  her  dishonor  now? 
Her   bright  beauty  lost — no    crown    on    her 

brow  ? 

To  live  in  dark  exile,  far,  far,  away ! 
Speak,  Knight  of  the  Lily,   and    tell    me,  I 

pray  ! " 


"  If  Gorilla,  the  Princess,  now  loves  me,  I  will ; 
Dishonored  and  friendless,  my  heart  is  hers 

still ! 

And  fairy  land  still  would  not  fairy  land  be, 
Unless  her  sweet  presence  were  granted  to 

me!" 


THE  LOST  FAIR  Y  BIRD. 


"  Thou  hast  heard    him    lost    Princess,  what 

dost  thou  say  ? 
Wilt  thou  lead  this  brave  Knight  from  glory 

away  ? 
If  thou  hast  e'er  loved  him,  I  know  thou  wilt 

not 
E'en  wish  he  should  share  thy  dark,  dreary 

lot ! " 


"  Live,  live,  brave  Avoline  ;  know  for  thy  joy, 
The  love  of  thy  Princess  no  death  can  destroy  ; 
I  will  not  accept  thee,  so  gentle  and  brave  ; 
Gorilla,  dishonored,  will  rest  in   her  grave  ! " 


He  bowed  to  the  Princess  ;  he  knelt  at  her 

feet  ; 

"  Look  in  my  eyes — my  darling,  my  sweet ! 
Has  life  one  joy  on  me  to  confer,     . 
Unblest  by  the  hallowing  presence  of  her 
Who  has  been  my  life's  star — my  angel — my 

guide, 
Through  the  sunshine  and  storm,  the  tempest 

and  tide, 


THE  LOST  FAIR  Y  BIRD. 


By  the  Powers  that  live   in  the  earth  or  the 

sky, 
Gorilla,  the  Princess,  my  bride,  shall  not  die!" 


She  rose  in  her  beauty — no  longer  a  bird  ; 
She    rose   at    the   sound    of   Love's   magical 

word  ! 

A  creature  of  glory — a  spirit  redeemed, 
By  the  wonderful   light   from  his  spirit  that 

beamed  ; 

Immortal  in  youth — in  majesty,  grace, 
And  was  clasped  to  his  heart   in  a  deathless 

embrace  ! 


"Gorilla  and  Avoline — blest,  doubly  blest," 
Said  the  Queen,   "Ye  nobly  have  stood  the 

stern  test ! 

If  a  spirit  be  found  who  constant  endures, 
Mid  anguish,  dishonor,  with  love  like  to  yours, 
The  lost  one  is  saved!     And  Avoline,  thine 
Is  the  honor;  and  gifts  are  Divine! 
Thy  beautiful  bride  is  a  sov'reign,  and  thou 
This  day  shalt  thyself  place  the  crown  on  her 

brow  ; 


THE  LOST  FAIR  Y  BIRD.  23 


And  Avoline — ever — forever — a  king, 

Shall  wear  for  his  emblem,  Love's  own  signet 

ring." 
Then   shouts  of  delight   rang  aloud  through 

the  air : 
"  Long  life  to  the  brave  and  Gorilla  the  fair!'' 


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The  lest  fairy 


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